Hair curling device



Dec. 26, 1933.

HAIR CURLING DEVICE Original Filed Sept. 25, 1928 w. I s. LEWIS 1,941,439

Patented Dec. 26, 1933 JC B' N E Wilbur S. Lewis, Lakewood, 0hio,'assignor to The This invention relates to a method andapparatus and is primarily directed-to theprovision ofa;rsimplified apparatus for carrying out a permanent waving-operation. Morein partic- 5 ular, the-invention lies in a novel typeoLhair waving unit: and means for :electricallyitand me: ehanically connecting a plurality of saidunits in aserieshookup.fla i This invention-is adivlsion in my application Serial No..394,980,"filed September 25, '1928.

.Animportant feature of .my invention lies, in the employment. of curling 'units' of improved construction and design. Thesecurling units include a rod on which thelhair is\.wound, the rod being of tubular-construction,and.housing an electrical resistance .unit intendedhto heat 'the tubular portion, and a terminalme'mber adapted tobe quickly and easily connectedinto and removed from the circuit; 'This'practice is "some- 20 what in contrast withythe prior art practice whereinthexheating-unit is disposed; in a case into which the curling'unit-is inserted. Such'an arrangement necessitates the '.use-' of large and expensive equipment due 'to' the individuality of eachcase and curling unit, each case being'sep- "arately connected to a suitable source'of current supply. e A goodzexample crimi "type of curling device is-to be found-"inthe sorcalled" v a.

' I purpose of this finger. is quite apparent, inasmuch pedestal outfits in wide-spread use today; i W Eachof the curling units contemplated 'by'me has associated therewith insulating pads adapted to be interposed between the head of the person onlwhich the heat is used and theheat element -proper;- The invention embraces clamps or suitable means for tightening hair on'the rod, asfwell as terminals for hooking the heaters inf'seri s'j Other objectsand:advantageous features'oi this invention will be noted in the; accompanying -t drawing and written description; wherein like "wi e h a n u'nits: i

Figure 2'is 'an eleyation of merprm 15;

characters] 'of reference designate" like 'partg and ing unitsj' j lating material 10 locatedin. an enlargedso'cket the curling unit;'si 1ch asthat shown and def sion, The other endof the rod2 is provided with F s ai a sea rantu linejB- -iibf 1 0 of my. appending, application Serial No; 394,980,

, Figure? is a view of another modified form of waving'unit; a g 3 i.- a v -Figure 8 is an end elevation of the heating unit shown in Figure 7 showing the terminals; u V Figure 9 is a longitudinal horizontal section of .69 the curling unit shown in Figure 7 and taken on theline 9- -9 o f Figure 8; and, v v -Figure10 is a section taken on the line 10-10 ofFigure,9. u r

Referring to the drawing,. it will be obviously QQ understoodthat the underlying principles of this invention are susceptible of embodiment with hair waving apparatus of I almost any construction. However; this invention is primarily directed ito the curling units and their particular features of 10 novelty, as well=as to a method of hooking such heaters in series in a simple mannerso that they may-beeasilyconnected and disconnected tola o r eo ur t u l v t To this-end; 1 hav shownm Figure 2 theme.- is ierred -form:of unit designated generally by the letter'Rh The unit comprises a rod 2 whichis of, *tubular construction and has an-outer surface which tapers toward a central cylindrical portion-3. A finger 4 is hinged as at 5 to the rod 2 so and has the. under surface contoured complementa'ry; to that tofg the rod so that 'sucht'finger inormallyglies in {close embrace therewith. The

as hair is intendedto be 'caughtbetween the e5 "finger 1 and the'jrod An electrical resistance a heating; unit 6 which may be of anysuitabletype 'is' -locat ed in an axial bore 7 lying centrally of .the rod and-extending entirely throughout. The

heating element-is provided with terminals at 9 0 one end whic h are mounted in a block ofinsuportion 9 integrally with one end of thevrod .2.

' :TThe rod 2 adjacent the socket 9 is; adapted to a ;.be receivedin a notch provided in a support for 35 scribed in my copendingapplication, hereinbefore .mentioned of which this-application is a divigaa ratchet mechanism which is employed'gto et- .10 ,Iectthe tightening of a strandof rhair on such This-"ratchet mechanism comprises an arbor portion-12 fitted into the bore Tat oneend and carriesafstiff wire-s14; Figure 5,having-its ends 1 .bent';tangentially and two enlarged external cy- :lindrical portions connected by'a flat sidedneck -15: Theengagernent of the sides of the neck 15 withthesides of the'notch 25,-sliown' in Figure no 3;

prevents the arbor from turning and the ratchet bar 14 permits the rod 2 to be rotated about the arbor in one direction only so that the strand may be wound up tightly but cannot be unwound of its own accord.

In Figure 6, I have shown a slightly modified form of curling unit wherein the means for preventing rotation of the tubular member in one direction consists of the ratchets 20, one of which is disposed adjacent the terminal end of the cylinder and the other is placed adjacent the free end. This type of curling unit embodies all the features hereinabove mentioned with regard to the units shown in Figures 2 and 3 as to the resistance unit and the method of mechanically and electrically connecting the unit in series with a plurality of other units. The -ratchets are adapted to be engaged by pawls (not shown) that consist of a single length of material secured, at one end and directed to engage the ratchet teeth. These pawls may be mounted on the clamp member 13, shown in Figure 10 of my application Serial No. 493,980, of which this application is a division, said members being located adjacent the supports 22 and in such position as to readily engage with the ratchet teeth. It is apparent thatthis arrangement will permit of the rotation of the curling unit in one direction only which will permit the strand of hair to be Wound up tightly thereon.

In the form of curling unit shown in Figures 7 and 9, the body portion consists of a tubular member of constant diameter throughout its main body portion surmounted by an enlarged sleeve corresponding tothe sleeve '9 in Figures 2 and 3 for the purpose of housing the block of insulating material 10 through which the terminals 8 project. This'curling unit, of course, -is provided with a resistance unit 6' all in the same manner as that described hereinbefore with reference to the other type of curling unit. However, the means located at the opposite end of the rod for tightening the hair after it has been somewhat loosely wound thereon differs somewhat over the arrangement hereinbefore described.

This means consists of a rod-like end member comprising a fork 21 formed on the end'of a cylindrical bearing 22 adapted to fit and turn within the end of the tubular sleeve. Inthis instance, as in the above instance, a-resilient but rather stiff spring wire 23 having its ends projecting tangentially bears within a reduced portion 24 of theend of the tubular-member and serves as a ratchet to permit rotational movement of the fork in one direction only with relation to the cylinder. The notch 26 acts to guide the end of the wire 23 into the interior of the tube when assembling the apparatus. The provision of the notch 26in the end of the tubular member has certain distinct advantages as it greatly assists in the insertion of the rod-like tip member and the spring wire ratchet into the end of the tubular member.' By providingfthe notch the ends of the wire ratchet members 23 may be quickly and easily inserted in the tube without the use of special tools. In inserting the forked tip into the tubular member one end 'of the wire 23 is placed inthe notch 26 and the parts are rotated causing this end of the wire to spring into the tube. It will be evident that upon turning the tip through an angle of 180 the other end of the wire 23 will come into the notch 26 and will also be snapped into the tube by further rotation of the parts.

To connect in series any, or all, of these various waving units, I employ a number of connectors such as shown in Figure 1. Generally speaking each of these connectors consists of a short length of wire 30, properly insulated, wherein each end of the wire'is provided with means, as at 31, which will permit of an electrical, as well as mechanical, connection to a socket member.

I have also provided a socket member 33 that is provided with parallel apertures therethrough adapted to receive the ends of two wires. The socket member 33 may be made up of some such material as bakelite or hard rubber and is contoured to lie snugly within the sleeve 9, the ends of the wires 30 being spaced apart sufficiently to properly engage with the terminals 8.

These sockets, designated by the numeral 34, are preferably made up of a light metal which may be split so as to impart a certain amount of resiliency thereto. In effect I have provided a double plug arrangement wherein a certain definite number of double plugs are each provided with a pair of socket terminals. However, these plugs may be permanently attached to the wire so as to constitute a complete assembly or if desired may be simply units into which the ends of thewires may be inserted. On one hand the user may supplement a number of wave units employed by other units and mayincrease the number of double plugs used by merely adding additional wires. On the other hand these groups of'double plugs may be incorporated in a system not intended to be separated.

The current may be obtained from an ordinary lighting circuit and, if desired, means can be providedfor breaking the circuit and thus discontinuing the heating operation as at any desired make of terminal, all as set forth in my copending application.

It will be understood that the foregoing specification and drawing by which it is illustrated discloses a preferred embodiment of my invention, that the principles thereof are not limited to this presentapplication but may be employed in other devices not inconsistent with the principles of the foregoing, and that the scope of my invention, is indicated by the appended claims:

Having thus described my invention I claim:--

1. A curling and waving unit comprising in combination, a tubular body portion about which a strand of hair is adapted to be wound, means on said body portion for retaining said wound strand of hair thereon, a resistance unit located interiorly of said body portion and adapted to heat said body portion when said unit is energized, means for effecting a mechanical and electrical connection with a lead from a source of current supply. the opposing end of said rod having a cylindrical bearing mounted therein carrying a fork, and a resilient means adapted to bear withinthe end of said tube, said tube being notched in its end to facilitate the mounting of said resilient member; therein.

2. In a curling and waving unit, the combination of a hollow cylindrical casing having a resistance unit located. interiorly thereof, a fork mounted at one end of said cylindrical body portion, a stiff wire with the ends projecting tangentially and bearing within said cylindrical housing for permitting the fork to be turned in one direction only, and a notch formed in said lindrical body portion, a forked member mounted at one end of said cylindrical body portion, a

resilient wire secured to said forked member and having a projecting end disposed within said cylindrical body portion and adapted to permit said forkedmember to be turned inonedirection only,

said cylindrical body portion being providedwith a notch formed in its end and adaptedto guide said projecting end of said wire into the interiorv of said body portion during assembly of the unit.

4. Ahair waving unit upon which hair may be coiled and secured comprising a tube, a mem-,

ber mounted in and projecting from one end of said tube and adapted to be held against rotation relative to said tube in one direction only, a wire secured to said member and engaging the inner.

wall of said tube and means for facilitating'the moun'ting'of said member and wire in said tube,

said means comprising a notch formed in" the end of said tube.

5. A hair waving unit of the type described comprising a tubular housing upon which hair may be wound, a detachable end member projecting from one end of 'saidtubular housing, means for permitting rotation of said detachable end member with respect to said housing in one direction only, said means comprising a wire extending through said end member and havingan end portion disposed substantially tangentially to and bearing against the interior ofsaid tubular housing, said tubular housing being provided with a notch in the end thereof for permitting said wire to be inserted within said tubular housing.

6. A hair waving unit including in combination a tube upon which hair maybe coiled, a rodlike member within said tube and projecting from one end thereof, an engagingdevice mounted on said rod-like member and comprising a resilient wire passed through said rod-like member and having its ends projecting therefrom and adapted to engage the interior of the tube and permit relative rotary movement of said rod-like member and said tube in one direction only, said tube being formed with a notch adapted to guidethe ends of said wireinto the interior or said tube during assembly of the unit.

7. A hair waving unit including in combination .ment and means for permitting said tube and to be inserted within said body'portion. r

v 3 a tube upon which hair may be wound,a member projecting from one end; of the tube'and adapted to be held against rotation, said tube and member being capable of relative rotary move- 7 member to be turned relative to each other in one direction only, saidtube enclosing said means andv being notched at its end to facilitate the.

mounting of said means therewithin, 1 8. A hair waving rod of the type described, comprising a body portion, a forked membermounted at one end of said body portion, a resilient wire secured to said forked member and having a projecting end disposed within said body portion and adapted to permit said forked member to be b turned in one direction only relative to said body 1 portion, said body portion being provided with a notch formed in its end and adapted to guide said projecting end of said wire into the interior of said body portion during assembly of the unit.

9. A hair waving'unit upon which hair may be ound and secured, comprising a rod having a hollow end portion, a member mounted in and from one end of said body portion, "means l10 for permitting rotation of said detachable end member with respect to said body portion inone direction only, said'means comprising a wire eX- tending through said end member and having an; end portion disposed substantially tangentially to, 11.5 and bearing against the interior of said body portion, said body portion being provided with a notch in the end thereof for permittingsaid wire- WILBUR S. LEWIS, 

